New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-09-19
"TFKEL. UPHARSIN."

Logically, the long struggle between oho
Democratic and the Republican party has
bcen terminated forever by the Democratic
VICTORY of 1884, the trial Of that party In
,.ower and its complete failure to meet the
expectations which caused its success. Not
many men, even of the most earnest Rcpub-
licans, realize how true this is or how I'M
portant. Practical results are not always
strictly logical. But there is reason for antici-
pating that the Democratic party will be de-
fcated In 1888. will pass forever from history,
and then men will wonder that precisely this
result of its trial in power was not by all
expected.
Between great parties the issue is usually
twofold: concerning principles and purposes
and concerning the men who lead or represent
parties The issue Of principles has ceased to
exist, because the Democratic party has now
proved that it has no principles. As party
it cannot be said to be in favor OF anything
except the possession Of the Offices. Four
fifths of its members want free trade. The
rest who do not have made 1t impossible for
the party to do anything; entrusted with
power, it is afflicted with absolute paralysis
az to revenue legislation. That involves fatal
incapacity, because some reduction Of revenue
is necessary, and party which cannot pass
any revenue measure whatever cannot posi-
blv govern the country. A majority of tho
Democrats have sympathy with the aims OF
the State Rights rebellion. But there are
enough Union veterans in its ranks to make
definite action by that party in the line OF
State Rights theories impossible. Most Of its
members want to cripple and starve tho
Federal Government to cut down its revenues
and curtail its functions, because they do not
trust the people in their corporate capacity.
But those who want appropriations and jobs
are so numerous and powerful that the party
is utterly paralyzed for that purpose also. 1t
is a party without purpose or principle.
So the issue is narrowed; has the party
worthy leaders and representatives; is it, III
the selection of men, the better party Of the
two? Nothing but trial could determine
The people chose to give it a trial, and the
result is here. Men who are hopecssy
ignorant or wilfully blind do not see it. But
elections are decided by men who see and
think and are not the slaves of prejudice.
1t was charged that the Republicans placed
ard kept some unworthy men in office. Every
political organization makes that mistake in
Sumo cases, and the people chose TO see
whether the Democratic party would do better
Ii selected for President man said to be
"bettcr than his party but Mr. Cleveland
surrenders his independence to keep his sup
p0rters. He was said to be sincere and
honest; he proves TO be man Of cheap
venccring, full of the shallow hypocrisies
which are most odious to Americans, and I'M
able to resist the worst tendencies Of his
party. AT the head of departments the party
places Mr.. Bayard whose melancholy in
capacity and British leanings make him often
sivc; Mr.. Fairchild, man found incompetent
in New-York for less responsible Office;
Mr. Villas, who has sadly lowered vhe efficiency
Of the postal service; Mr. Garland, jobber
more shameless than any other party ever
kept in office; Mr. Whitney, the slayer of the
foremost American shipbuilder; Mr.. Endicott.
the cipher; and Mr.. Lamar, whose department
has become notorious for mismanagement
For the Supreme Court this party selects
rcpudiator to decide upon the validity of re-
pudating acts, and close friend Of jobbers
to decide upon telephone cases-1or the APP
pointment of Mr.. Lamar to the vacant justice
ship seems to be certain. For the most i'm
portant offices at New-York, it selects the
tools of Hubert o. Thompson, and at Balti-
more the tools of German the corruptionist.
In Ohio and Indiana. crimes by which the
people are robbed of their rights are shielded
by appointments and by the solid phalanx of
Federal officials. Throughout the public SER
wee the selection of jail-birds, of men notOri
ously unworthy or incompetent, has been I'M
pleasantly frequent, and all men see that, to
say the least, the character of the service has
not been elevated or improved since Repub-
licans went out Of power.
Such has been the result Of the test. Claim
ing to have better principles, the Democratic
party is found upon trial to have none. Claim
ing to have better men, the party puts in less
competent legislators and less worthy officials.
The logical result of the test is that the Demo-
cratic party must be set aside as unit TO
govern and if unfit to govern it is too unfit
to exist. After it will come some party that
has honest convictions and selects honest men
to lead it.
POLITICAL SIGNS IN FRANCE.